Jim Sweeney dies: Longtime football coach was 83

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Jim Sweeney, the coach of Fresno State’s football team for nearly 20 years, has died at the age of 83, the school announced Friday (Feb. 8). Sweeney led the school to a record 144 victories.

Fresno State athletic director Thomas Boeh says in a statement: “Most
of what our football program has accomplished in recent years was
clearly made possible by the path that Coach Sweeney blazed for Fresno
State football throughout his two decades of leadership. He was a man of vision,
toughness and character who led the Bulldogs to new heights and went on
to become a national icon.”

Sweeney also coached for universities Montana State and Washington State before he was hired at Fresno State. Altogether, his college coaching totals are 200 wins in 32 seasons as a head coach.

During his tenure with Fresno State, the coach had 35 bulldogs selected for the NFL draft. Sweeney also spent time as an assistant coach with NLF teams the Oakland Raiders and St. Louis Cardinals.